Re: What to do with Hummels?

kivah · ‎03-11-2010

@momtochloe wrote:
It is beyond painful to ask this question but I have tried to ensure that my mom's beloved Hummel collection goes to a good home with no positive results. As time is ticking I am planning on donating her collection to a charity. I always assumed they would find a good and happy home so this is hard for me.

I guess my question is, how does one value a large collection? The majority of her figurines come from Germany and are many decades old but I cannot find anyone that would appreciate them. If you know someone that would be interested in having them I would love to hear from you!

Any assistance will be gratefully appreciated!

@momtochloe

I suggest u don't sell them or give them away. Do u have a very close friend or family member that would enjoy them? I only have one hummel that my mother bought many years ago - and I treasure it. I also have a collection of Royal Doulton dolls that my mother purchased in the 1950s/60 --- which I have in my glass hutch in my dining room. They mean the world to me!!!!

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

mtc, Perhaps you've done this, but a lot can be learned by checking out the Ebay SOLD items (not the prices requested, but the ones at which they sold. Older Hummels from Germany might well be worth selling on Ebay. Ebay dealers can be pretty creepy, too, but on the whole I have found it a fairly quick way to sell things, seldom at the best price but really if it goes to someone who will value it, her collection will be appreciated.

There are brokers who can do this Ebay selling for you if you are too busy, but there is a percentage taken from the profit.

I am downsizing in anticipation of moving in the next year or two, and my mother's dining table and breakfront, which I use a lot and cherish, still might be a casualty of my move.

This is what I decided: if I do put her furniture into a consignment shop and it sells, I will give the money to the American Heart Association in her name. That way I will still be honoring my mother's memory.

Nataliesgramma · ‎03-28-2015

@151949 wrote:
I have my Grandmother's Hummels - from before WW11. It does make me sad to see the low prices they sell for on e bay. I wish I could buy them from you. How many do you have? Some are still pretty valuable. There is a Hummel store in North Lima, Ohio that may be able to help you to value them accurately.

Sadly, that store closd about 2 years ago....it was called "The Hummel Gift Shop"......I used to buy my Dept 56 from there

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

At the end of the day, no one is going to pay for your memories.

You're making it an 'emotional transaction.'

Those special memories are yours only.

No matter how much someone appreciates that inanimate object,

those memories can't be transferred to the new owner.

It's just a financial transaction to them.

That's something you'll have to make peace with before

giving them away, or there will be so much guilt these

objects aren't loved like you love them.

Suggestions of eBay, auction houses, speciality stores..if it was a

coveted item, you could kill 2 birds w/ one stone & make some $,

but you've said upthread, it's not about the money.

But it's been said by many, you can't give these figurines away.

If you gave the whole lot to charity or Goodwill/Salvation Army,

that one lucky collector happen to be there on the day they were displayed...wow...the joy it would give them!

Release the object. But the memory will always be there.

Good luck.

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

@sidsmom wrote:
At the end of the day, no one is going to pay for your memories.

You're making it an 'emotional transaction.'
Those special memories are yours only.
No matter how much someone appreciates that inanimate object,
those memories can't be transferred to the new owner.
It's just a financial transaction to them.
That's something you'll have to make peace with before
giving them away, or there will be so much guilt these
objects aren't loved like you love them.

Suggestions of eBay, auction houses, speciality stores..if it was a
coveted item, you could kill 2 birds w/ one stone & make some $,
but you've said upthread, it's not about the money.
But it's been said by many, you can't give these figurines away.

If you gave the whole lot to charity or Goodwill/Salvation Army,
that one lucky collector happen to be there on the day they were displayed...wow...the joy it would give them!

Release the object. But the memory will always be there.
Good luck.

@sidsmom- this was an excellent post. "Release the object. But the memory will always be there". So good.

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@sidsmom wrote:
At the end of the day, no one is going to pay for your memories.

You're making it an 'emotional transaction.'
Those special memories are yours only.
No matter how much someone appreciates that inanimate object,
those memories can't be transferred to the new owner.
It's just a financial transaction to them.
That's something you'll have to make peace with before
giving them away, or there will be so much guilt these
objects aren't loved like you love them.

Suggestions of eBay, auction houses, speciality stores..if it was a
coveted item, you could kill 2 birds w/ one stone & make some $,
but you've said upthread, it's not about the money.
But it's been said by many, you can't give these figurines away.

If you gave the whole lot to charity or Goodwill/Salvation Army,
that one lucky collector happen to be there on the day they were displayed...wow...the joy it would give them!

Release the object. But the memory will always be there.
Good luck.

@sidsmom Excellent advice!

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

People do pay for memories. Not top dollar, often, but sometimes really well.

Ebay testifies to that.

This is like people who go nuts when stocks dive and get rid of them. Avoid the herd mentallity and do a little research when people tell you to divest.

Not that I mean you shouldn't divest if you like, mtc, but my impression is that you wanted to pass something on to someone who wants it. That should be possible.

brandiwine · ‎03-11-2010

Check with an art museum. Another suggestion is to contact your homeowners insurance rep. Policies have to have certain certifications and values for things like jewelry, and pieces of art. There are also specific books out there and I'm sure online resources to value the pieces. Good Luck

deedledeedeedle · ‎05-27-2014

@momtochloe wrote:
I will be holding on to one of my mom's favorities . . . again, sincere thanks for all your input! . . . :heart

If you don't mind my asking, which one are you keeping? just curious to know which one was your fav.

dee

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@sidsmom wrote:
At the end of the day, no one is going to pay for your memories.

You're making it an 'emotional transaction.'
Those special memories are yours only.
No matter how much someone appreciates that inanimate object,
those memories can't be transferred to the new owner.
It's just a financial transaction to them.
That's something you'll have to make peace with before
giving them away, or there will be so much guilt these
objects aren't loved like you love them.

Suggestions of eBay, auction houses, speciality stores..if it was a
coveted item, you could kill 2 birds w/ one stone & make some $,
but you've said upthread, it's not about the money.
But it's been said by many, you can't give these figurines away.

If you gave the whole lot to charity or Goodwill/Salvation Army,
that one lucky collector happen to be there on the day they were displayed...wow...the joy it would give them!

Release the object. But the memory will always be there.
Good luck.

She is making it an emotional transaction because it is.

And there is nothing wrong in doing so.

It isn't like OP has a house full of everything her mother ever owned, and can part with nothing. It is about having something that was special to her mother, and to many other people who used to collect the same thing, and trying to get it into the hands of someone who would value them for the joy a collection brings (and that isn't about money value).

I don't think making this attempt is at all strange, fruitless, or wrong to do. The truth might be that it can't be done in the way the OP would like (keep the collection together and have it go to someone who will appreciate it), but I give OP five stars for trying to honor her mother's memory in this way.

I read here so often, about people being so angry about having to clean out a parent's home, it's just nice to know that there is still someone who treasures the things their parents did, and want to see them preserved in some way that honors that memory.